This is SO hard!

My document checklist is now color-coded as I desperately try to identify and organize in my brain what exactly needs to be notarized, authenticated, etc ... and what that all means, anyway! And do I have it notarized, or does the person who wrote it, and can I use the copies of police reports from my Chilean visa application or do I have to have them re-done, and how do you re-do that when you live overseas?? ... well, the list goes on and on, but that gives you something of an idea!

This is SO hard.

The finances are also making me very nervous ... I know GOD is able and His timing is perfect, but I just wish I could get a sneak peek at how it's all going to come together. So far all we've had to pay are two application fees ($50 & $200) but the home study is around the corner ($1500 + travel, lodging, food expenses for the SW) and when our dossier is submitted we need to pay our first major fees to the agency in the US ($4500) and the orphanage in Haiti ($4000.) Along the way, there are many other small fees that add up ($675 for USCIS fingerprinting, $10 PER PAGE of translation to French, Fed Ex mailings to and from Haiti, etc. etc.) Halfway through the waiting period, the remainder of the Haitian fee is due (another $4000.) And when our son is finally ready for us, we'll have the airline tickets to purchase ($3000+ for the three of us.)

Two of our former grant agencies have indicated they would like to help us again and we had hoped one might do so prior to the home study to help us with that expense - however, today they said they may be able to help with a small amount up front, but the rest would be later since they disbursed several grants at the end of last year and their cash flow is low right now. (They are a wonderful agency and I can't say enough good about them.) Also, we received a special gift of $1000 at the end of last year into our missions account - but since it wasn't earmarked as a personal gift we cannot use it for something like this unless the donor specifically says so ... we are waiting to hear on that.

One other thing to consider ... There is a new law under review in Haiti that would significantly limit adoptions - for instance, a family with two children already would not be allowed to adopt from Haiti. This would be a tragedy for the hundreds of orphans waiting for homes and the families willing to provide them! If our dossier is sent to Haiti prior to this law passing, then we would be grandfathered in under the old rules which allow a family to have up to 4 children already. So even though it will probably take many months for this new law to be reviewed, we want to be sure our paperwork is completed and sent to Haiti quickly.

We covet your prayers!